Traffic-light runners in the red zone

Traffic-light runners in the red zone

10 August 2000

Local red-light camera fines are bucking an international trend and increasing at a "disturbing" rate - and NSW's most senior traffic policeman, Chief Superintendent Ron Sorrenson, says it is because most motorists believe they won't get caught.

Despite clear warnings at intersections equipped with red light cameras, more than 78,000 fines were issued last year.

This is an increase of more than 3,000 on the previous year.

"To see so many people fined for disobeying red lights shows motorists are not getting the message and have a total lack of respect for the dangers associated with red light running," Sorrenson told Drive.

"It beggars belief that after so many years and with clear signposting that we are still catching this number of people."

Sorrenson said traffic lights were primarily aimed at stopping right-angle collisions which are the source of the most serious type of motor injuries.

"It seems everybody rates themselves as a good driver. Nobody's a bad driver, it's always the other person."

Sorrenson said the high number of red light runners reflected the prevailing attitude to other road rules.

"Motorists need to take more accountability or responsibility for their actions," he said. "Until the community recognises that a traffic offence is a criminal offence we will continue to see people disregard the traffic laws."

In the US last year, more than 800 people were killed and an estimated 200,000 were injured by drivers who made split-second decisions to run red lights, according to a study released last month.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study called on local and State jurisdictions to increase the use of cameras to catch red-light runners in the act, saying they serve as a powerful deterrent.

Unlike NSW, the US study found the cameras have reduced red-light running by 40 percent.

"Red-light cameras are not the only solution, but they probably are the best solution," said Brian O'Neill, president of the institute, which is funded by insurance companies. Arizona had the deadliest intersections, the study found, with red-light runners accounting for 7.1 deaths per 100,000 residents from 1992-1998. Western States such as Nevada, Texas and New Mexico also ranked highly.

North Dakota intersections were the safest, the study found, with no fatalities in the period.

O'Neill said cities in the west of the US were more likely to be spread out, encouraging higher general speeds and higher approach speeds to intersections so that "the consequences are likely to be worse" in car crashes.

Red-light cameras are used by about 40 US jurisdictions, including Los Angeles and New York City. Currently 12 States and the District of Columbia allow their use, with legislation pending in 10 others.

O'Neill cited legal restrictions as the main reasons for more cities not using the cameras, which were intended to be a deterrent ratrher than punishment. "We find over and over again that the most effective way to change driver behaviour is to threaten them with a ticket," he said.

"Motorists don't believe they're going to get involved in an accident. They do believe they are going to get a ticket, though."

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